Method of and apparatus for forming packages



Oct. 12, 1954 c. w. voGT METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PACKAGES Filed Dec. 2 1949 r n n n n l 1| INVENTOR. CLARENCE W. VQGT ATTORNEY.

Oct. 12, 1954 C. W. VOGT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PACKAGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DGO. 2, 1949 INVENTOR. CLARENCE w, voc-s1' ATTORNEY.

c. w. vos-r 2,691,257

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING PACKAGES Oct. l2, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2. 1949 INVENTOR. CLARENCE W. VOGT ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 "UNITED SLTTES PTEiN-I" (FFICEv METHOD 0F' AND APPARATUS' FOR ,FORMING PACKAGES Clarence W. Vogt, NorwalkyConn..

Application December 2, 1949,"Serial.No. 130,729

14 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in forming.-packages,-.and in .particular to improvements. in packaging yobjects or. v`.commodities .in flexible or lsemi-rigid .sheet materials..

.1t is an object of the present. invention to ,provide an improved packaging method and apparatuswhich .will produce finished packages at .a higher rate than.present.commercialpackaging machinery with a reducedcost per package and Without .requiring .an undue increase in the size .and cost ofthe apparatus.

V'predetermined position' with respect .to 'this-en- VW-rapment, and each panel of the completed package may bear printedfmaterial, advertising',trade- Amarks or thelike-at the.desiredpredetermined location.

`AY -further object is to provide amethodo and apparatus `for `forming -packagesiutilizirigsa .plura'lit'y of sequencesvof enwrapmentswhich may be conjointly fed by a common mechanism, therebvs-simplifying .the .feeding `of :the renwrapments and also materially simplifying "the :adjustment -ofthe feeding .mechanism to .obtainaccurateregistry of each envvrapment.V

Another .obj ect is to vprovide :a `method :of :and

apparatus. for Vforrriing.packages .which is 'so' .ar- .ranged and constructedthat it mayffeed'ra'pair 'packaging method and apparatus utilizing dual packaging paths with enwrapments .being Lintermittently advanced conjointly along'said paths and-objects to be Wrappedalternatelydeposited in one-of the paths atl'each causebetweenthe successive advancements of the enwrapments.

A still further yobj ectofthe present invention .is-.to-provicle a method of andlapparatus forfpackagingcomposite objects by feedingenwrapments and `successively shaping :the .enwrapmentsto provide trough-like channels for-receiving andassembling the components of-the objects fand therel latter' enclosing the composite. objects tocomplete .a package therearound.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following' detailed description accompanied by' thedraWi-ngs in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational viewl showingin schematicy form'- a preferred rembodiment for carrying out the present invention;

Fig. 2 is.a plan View of a section of sheetlm'aterial to provide suitable enwrapments foruse inthe lapparatus shown in Fig. lj

Fig. 2A is' afsectionalview'offthe sheet 'lmaterial 'shown r`inFig. 2 shaped to suitable config-u1- ration" 'for vdepositing objects there'onfor packaging;

`Fig.1:3 an enlargedelevational;viewroffafmech- Yanism` for .supplying and .depositing `the .objects y .or commodities to be packaged;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewftaken.substantially online 4-5-4 of Fig. `3;

Fig.- 5 is .anxenlargedsectional vieW takensubstantially on line v5 5 of Fig. 3

'Figa' 6fiis ian enlarged fragmentary sectional -vievvi tal-:en substantially on line :6-1-6 of Fig: '3

' Figi' `isan'.enlargedsectional viewsshowing aiportion of 1.a driving mechanism suitable A'for iuselfin Vconnection.with `the'apparatus fshovvn.l in

Figure 1;.

x Fig; 8 'is another elevational'.Vievvfof the mechanismshown` in. Fig. 7 ;A

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of ia :completed `package :produced Vaccordancewith the present invention.;

FiglO-is asimilar perspective fview of another 'form '.of. package. Whichmayibe Imade in .accordance with the present invention;

"Fig-1.1 is a fragmentary sectional fviewioifa mechanism .which may 5 comprise =f an attachment :to the-.apparatus shown .in Fig. 1 and' Fig. l2 .is a Ifragmentary .sectional-aviewiof'a modified formofrmechanism for depositingfobjects oracomrnodities to be :packaged:-

The-present.invention-Will be .described in .connect-ion4 with the improved packaging l.of plastic material, such asfor example,- individual: portions of ice .crea-mory the like. However-,it will beob- ,vious. that -many 'other-1 objects for commodities tion, v.the terms plastic material` shall. be. construed to include materials which may beflowed or forced through passages or conduits by the application of pressure, but which do not flow appreciably under the influence of gravity.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, packages may be formed by the following steps:

1. Two sequences of enwrapments may be conjointly fed as a single web of sheet material with the individual enwrapment sections of each sequence positioned and arranged in offset or staggered relationship so that the mid-points of the enwrapments of one sequence are opposite adjacent end portions of individual enwrapments of the other sequences.

2. Prior to receiving the objects or commodities to be packaged, each sequence of enwrapments may be shaped to provide longitudinally extending generally concave or trough-like receiving channels. These channels are open and have an apex which is adapted to receive a corner edge of the objects or commodities to be packaged so that when the objects are deposited they may be accurately positioned with respect to the edge portions of the enwrapment. This results in a package in which the exterior design, printed matter etc., may be accurately registered in advance and each finished package will have a uniform appearance. This obviates the need for repetitive printing of enwrapments presently utilized because of the inability of many present day wrapping machines to accurately position the enwrapments with respect to the objects. It is believed that uniform packages having registered printing will provide a more attractive appearance of the iinished package, thus making it more readily saleable.

3. The conjointly fed sequences of enwrapments may be intermittently advanced with a suitable pause, hesitation or dwell between each advancement. This facilitates the proper depositing of the objects or commodities for packaging, in the oase of plastic materials, many of which have a tendency to cling to surfaces with which they come in contact, the hesitation or dwell will permit the severance or removal of the plastic material from its feed mechanism to provide increased accuracy in the amount of each object deposited.

4. With the wrappers of each sequence offset with respect to each other, the intermittent feeding of the sequences of enwrapments permits alternate deposition of an object in each sequence of enwrapments at each pause or hesitation. Such an arrangement is beneficial in connection with the deposition of masses of plastic material since the plastic material may be fed from a -single source with continuous iiow which flow is diverted from one to the other of the sequences of enwrapments for formation and deposition.

5. The sequences of enwrapments may then be separated or severed along a line extending longitudinally between the sequences and individual packages may be formed to enclose or surround the objects deposited in each sequence of enwrapments. The individual enwrapments of each sequence may be separated or severed prior to, during, or after folding the enwrapments about the objects. If desired, the enwrapments may be folded to tubular form about the objects and suitable end folds made to enclose the object. Alternatively, sealed packages may be made by adhering together, preferably with heat and pressure, juxtaposed portions of the sheet material from which the enwrapments are fabricated.

The sheet material to be used for forming packages may be fed as a single integral web, dimensioned and arranged to provide the desired number of sequences or series of enwrapments. Each sequence may be fed as a unit or, if desired, the sequences may comprise a series or plurality of separate enwrapments. It is believed preferable to feed a single integral web on which the sequences of individual enwrapment sections may be suitably defined.

The sheet material may comprise any flexible or non-rigid sheet having the desired characteristics for packaging purposes. Examples of suitable sheet materials are papers of all kinds, regenerated cellulose, synthetic or plastic films, metallic foil and the like. It has been found that for many objects it is advantageous to utilize combinations of these sheet materials to obtain the properties desired. One component may be selected for its strength or imperviousness and might be combined with another which provides a more decorative appearance when printed, or is capable of being heat-sealed. Many such composite or laminated sheet materials are extremely beneficial. As will be seen, the present invention also makes possible the use of heavier, more rigid sheet materials or iieXible materials which may be reinforced at desired locations. This means greater protection of the packaged commodity during handling and shipping and until the package is opened by the consumer.

In the fabrication of the enwrapments it may be desirable to incorporate a number of aids to packaging in addition to the imprinting of designs, advertising material, manufacturers name and address, trade-marks, etc. For example, score lines or fold lines may be provided where the sheet material is subsequently to be folded and it may be desirable to incorporate adhesive spots, stripes or areas to permit the retaining of folds made in the package or to permit the making of hermetically sealed packages. It is also contemplated that suitably located edge slits, tear strips, cut score lines, or other means will facilitate the utility of the enwrapments in the formation, closing, opening, etc., of the package.

Looking now at Figure 1, the numeral i denotes a supply roll from which a web of suitable sheet material may be withdrawn. The web may pass over a pair of idler rolls 2 being fed from the supply roll by suitable feed rolls 3. The feed rolls 3' may be driven by suitable source of rotary power (not shown) and may withdraw the web against the resistance of a friction brake and weight mechanism indicated by the numeral 4 and acting on the shape of the supply roll l.

To maintain accurate registry of the web W, a suitable conventional adjusting means may be incorporated in the web feed mechanism. For example, a scanning mechanism indicated by the numeral 5, and including a photo-electric cell, may operate to create an impulse when a scanning mark or registry indicia on the web passes across the iielcl of the scanner. These marks may be placed on the web at the time that it is printed and are spaced to correspond to the length of individual enwrapment sections. The impulse created by the scanner may be amplified, compared with a standard and any necessary adjustments transmitted by known mechanisms to one or more of the feed mechanisms to assure proper timing of the various portions of the on which is mounted one of the rollers IB for driving the lower belt |5.

The shaft 21 also carries a worm wheel 32 as may best be seen in Fig. 8. Meshing with and driving the worm wheel 32 is a worm 33 which is mounted for rotation on a driving shaft 34. While the worm 33 is fixed to rotate with the shaft 34 it is also mounted so that it may move axially along the shaft 34 even during rotation. This may be done by mounting the worm on the shaft by an axially extending spline or key 35. The shaft 34 also carries for rotation a cylindrical or barrel cam 35, mounted for rotation on the shaft 34 by the spline or key 35, but capable of axial movement therealong. The worm 33 and the cam 36 are secured together so that their axial movement is identical. The periphery of the cam 36 is provided with a suitably shaped cam track 31 and disposed within the camtrack is a roller follower 38 carried by a stationary support member 40. Thus, as the shaft 34 rotates, the cam 36 and worm 33 will move axially along the shaft 34 as dictated by the cam track 31 and roller follower 38. It may be seen that if the cam track 31 angles in a direction approaching the lead angle of the worm 33, the cam and worm will move axially along the shaft and the worm will not exert its full driving effect to the worm wheel 32. This means that the shaft 3| and accordingly the pulley I6 will move at a decelerated speed. However, since the cam track 31 has a closed course, returning to its initial position during each revolution of the shaft 34, the cam track must angle in the opposite direction, causing the worm 33 to drive the worm wheel 32 and the pulley I6 at an accelerated speed. By varying the angularity and the arcuate extent of the angular portions of the cam track 31, almost any desired characteristics of motion of the driven shafts 21 and 3l may be obtained. For example, the shafts 21 and 3| may be caused to dwell for as much as about three-quarters of each revolution of the driving shaft 34. By forming the cam 36 with an appropriate cam track 31, the shaft 34 may be driven with any source of rotary power, moving at a constant rate, and the shafts 21 and 3| will move intermittently with the desired characteristics.

The pulleys I6 and |3 driving the belts I5 and I2 respectively may be mounted so that the belts engage the web W therebetween with the desired pressure. Such pressure may be adjusted and be resilient so that the belts will advance the web until the web has a predetermined tension, and will thereafter slip. This means that the feed rolls 3 which may be operated at a constant speed will withdraw and advance the desired amount of web as controlled by the scanner mechanism 5 and its associated registry adjustment mechanism. The intermittent advancing movement of the belts may be slightly more than the desired advancement of the web and the web will be retained taut and in proper engagement with the former The intermittently operated feed roll 8 may be driven from the shaft 21 so that it will operate in proper relation with the belts l2 and I5.

At a point along the path of movement of the web after the longitudinally extending receiving channels 3 have been formed, the objects or commodities to be packaged may be deposited into each of the channels by any suitable mechanism. It is preferable that the objects be placed on the web with a corner edge of each object received in the complementary shape at the apex of the receiving channel.

A number of depositing mechanisms may be used to place a wide variety of objects on the web. Very good results may be obtained by the use of apparatus for producing measured masses of plastic material such as is shown and described in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 123,- 575, filed October 26, 1949, entitled Apparatus for and Method of Producing Plastic Masses; and Serial No. 126,213, filed November 8, 1949, entitled Production of Accurately Measured Plastic Masses, now U. S. Patent No. 2,666,229.

For purposes of illustration, the drawings show a simple mechanism for feeding and depositing objects, such as individual servings of plastic ice cream. Such a material may be made in a continuous process apparatus and will be delivered therefrom through a conduit under pressure. Fig. 3 indicates a pair of conduits 4| and 42 which may lead from a pair of continuous process units to feed two different flavors of ice cream in a partially frozen, plastic state. .i

These supply conduits 4| and 42 terminate in a suitable header or manifold 43 which as shown in Fig. 4 leads to two branches 44. Between the junction of the conduits 4| and 42 with the header 43, and extending substantially centrally through each of the branches 44 is a partition 45 so that the two flavors from the conduits will flow in side by side divided relation through each of the branches. Each of the branches 44 terminates in a forming aperture or nozzle 46 at which point the partition 45 also terminates and the two flavors on leaving the nozzle merge to provide a composite mass or portion of the plastic material.

To control the flow of plastic material from the forming apertures and to cause alternate deposits onto each of the packaging paths, a mechanism for shutting off the now at each of the nozzles is provided. Such a mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 5. Briey this mechanism comprises a pair of sliding shutter members 41, mounted for movement through an opening in the wall of each of the branches 44 in the region of the nozzle 46. These members 41 also pass through slots in the partition 45 and the walls of the slots may serve to guide and support the members as they are moved. Preferably the shutters 41 are actuated in timed relation with each other from a common mechanism so that as one is closed the other is opened. This may be accomplished by providing each of the shutter members with a pin 48 which is received in a slot formed in an oscillating arm or rod 50. Each of the rods 50 is carried by a rocker shaft 5|, which shafts also carry gears 52. The teeth of the gears 52 are in mesh with spaced portions of a driving rack 53 which is reciprocated by any suitable mechanism (not shown) in timed relation with the balance of the apparatus. The partition 45 is situated in position to form a pair of streams of plastic which have a triangular cross section and result in a rectangular or square two flavor portion. Obviously, this partition could be modified to form other arrangements, such as, horizontal or vertical layers, etc. The arrangement and movement of the partition 45 and the shutters 41 in Fig. 5 is best suited for single flavor portions of ice cream. To avoid smearing or intermixing of the flavors, the partition should be in a plane parallel to the direction of motion of the shutter members.

Since the plastic materials, such as ice cream.

havea tendency to cling to. surfaces with whichthey come in contact, deposition ofthe individual portions may best be' obtained if each portion is sheared` or wiped or severed fromthe end face of thefvformingaperture orl nozzle. To accomplish this, a severing mechanism, best illustrated in Fig. 6, may be utilized. Such a mechanismmay comprise a suitable vblade or knife 54mounted-at. the end face of each -of the nozzles and adapted4 This may be done by mounting each of the blades on a pair of crank 'arms carried for rotation by shafts 56. Each of the shafts 56r carries a gear 5'! whichmeshes with and may bedrivenby an .in-v termediate gear 58. mounted for rotation on a shaft. 60. It may be seen that during half la revolution of. the drivingshaft 60 the. blade ywilldescend .across thev opening. of the end face ofthe nozzle and during the other rhalfa Irevolution the blade will return to its. starting position .with the blade and its. tip ascending {exteriorly of the nozzle opening. .The blades may be. intermittently driven soA that they make a shearing stroke and'A return todwellvwhile poised above the .nozzley or mayrotate continuously, preferably withanaceelerated cutting stroke anda decelerated return stroke.

-The shaft. 6l] maybe. driven inl proper.. timed relation withY the v.balance-of the. .mechanism so that tisaCtuated to shear plastic extending from the -nozzler shortly afterthe. shutter memberV 41 isf closed tostop .the `flow. At the time :that the blade 54 is actuated the web is preferably stationary with..an. enwrapment sectionV suitably. positioned beneath the nozzle to receive. theportion to be deposited. The plastic. may be. depositedinwardly' fromthe marginal edge ofthe wrapper (denedby. the .dotdashline 'inFig 2) with the. sheared vend spaced. from. the slit.. edge portion123. of the enwrapment by..a distance. equal to. theamount. of sheet material required to provide end .folds for the package.

The provision ofthe edgeslits 23 permits.. each ofthe blades 54. to. pass through the path .of 'the web` W causing., the end fold portions-ofthe enwrapment. in. 'this region` toA bebent. or flanged. downwardly and outwardly against the. blade.

The position of the end' fol'dportions. of 'the enwrapment when wip-ing, of the blade occurs is indicated bythenumerall at--the right hand 'portion of Fig. 6. This anging action `is exaggeratedin the.drawing for clarity 4and is permitted bytheclearance between the underside of the nozzle andthe web. It. may be noted that the interior surface of the blademay be caused to wipe itself clean against the end face ofthe nozzle, while the` opposite surface of the blade will be wiped clean against the end fold portions ofthe enwrapment.

' During the deposition of objects onto" the .web ofenwrapments it maybe desirable. to provide additional sup-portiorvv the web in the. region of the receiving channels. 'Such additional sup-- port may be in the form of stationary supporting surfaces endlessconveyors, kor may be" one or more series of movable 'supportmemberspositioned so' that they will A-underlie the web and the obffects *which-*have* been' deposited. "The" vprol@ vision of such-additionalsupport is also advantag-.ecus in that it maybe useful for conveying the objectsor commodity through the-folding and closing operations necessary to complete the package.

Inthedrawings, aplurality of support members 64 are shown, vmounted for movementinendless paths-on achain. 65. A similar series -of sup-- portmembers may be provided for each sequence of enwrapments. Ifdesired, the support members may.. be. provided.. for individual..movement in a direction..perpendicularlytothatof the path of the chain. This may facilitate proper positioning of the support members, at the time of deposition of. theobjects or commodity,. or provide for movementduring packaging operations.

Each. ofthe chains 65 may. carry a plurality of fixtures 66 provided withpins 61. The support members. 64 carrystems which are slotted to receivel the pins 61. and permit movement of the members 64.with.respect to the chain. A follower dfiscarriedby the stems ofthe support members to control theposition of the members in cooperation-with a camA surface 1E). which. may have therequired. configuration` vto locate the support members at thedesired positions.

. Afterthe objects yto be packaged have been depositedontothe enwrapments., it is only necessary.

to. sever the weband complete the packaging by enclosing 'theenwrapments around the objects toforrn individual packages'. It is first necessary to 'divide theweb to separate the variousA sequences of enwrapments and in the form above shown! this maybe. readily done by slitting the web, along its longitudinal center line. .indicated byddot .dashV line I8 which forms .'a common boundary between 'the' two sequences of enwrapments. Fig.. 1 vshows a rotary slitter 12 operatingA inconjunction with backup` or platen roller '13, and' this slitter mechanism may. be driven in timed relation with the travel of the. web.

After severing or. separating the two sequences of enwrapments each' sequence may' be additionally hand-led to complete a package about each of the objects. 'The'specicdetails of completing rthe packages arenot'consideredessential to the. present'. invention,y since" a number of conventional package forms may be created. Fig.l 9 .illustratesadesirable' form of package which may be made from one :of the enwrapments shown in Fig. 2. "To obtain this type of package, opposite edge portions of the enwrapment may vbe folded over to close the enwrapment to tubular formab'out the object,'with marginal edge portions indicated by the'numeral' 'I4 in Figs. 2, 6 and 9,. extending outwardly from the package in contiguous; relation. The contiguous edge portions' of the enwrapment are preferably coated with a suitable adhesivematerial` suchas a thermoplasticv adhesive and suchmarginal edges may be sealed together to provide'what is knownas a ntypeseam, extending longitudinally'along the tube. The `folding of the sequence of enwrapments about the series of objects deposited at proper spaced intervals 'along the sequence may be progressively accomplished by conventional tube forming means with the marginal edges 14 placed in engagement with each other. This tubularportion of the sequences of enwrapments may beof suflcient length to include a number of theobjects to be packaged, and in this way a continuous sealer such as a pair of heated pressure rollers, may be employed to eiectthe longitudinal seam.

vAt the regonbetween successive objects-suitable end closures may be formed to permit separation into individual packages. First the longitudinally extending iin seam may be folded down on to a side panel of the object (see Fig. 9) and the tube fiattened in the region between adjacent objects. If desired, the opposed wall portions of the tube may be tucked just prior to flattening and sealing the tube, in a manner similar to that shown in my issued Patent 2,156,466, dated May 2, i939. The attened and sealed portion may then be cut or severed at the margins between the individual enwrapment sections so that a part of the sealed portion is disposed on each of the two adjacent packages.

Another package form is illustrated in Fig. l0, and in this instance the opposite marginal edge portions 'It of the enwrapment are overlapped to provide what is known as a lap seam, indicated by the numeral 'l5 in Fig. 10, which may or may not be heat sealed as desired. The sequence of enwrapments may be cut into individual sections and conventional end folds made to complete the package to the form shown in Fig. 1G.

Fig. 11 illustrates a mechanism which may be used in conjunction with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and is particularly adapted for the assembly and packaging of composite objects, such as ice cream sandwiches. The particular attachment provides for the deposit of the wafers which form the top and bottom layers of the sandwich. Obviously two such attachments are required one being located ahead of the supply pipes 4 I, 42 and the header 43, and the other being located after the depositing mechanism. In the form shown, which is diagrammatic, a single feed mechanism which supplies wafers alternately for each of the.

two packaging paths is illustrated. Such mechanism comprises a hopper or supply tube 36 containing a plurality of wafers Bl in stacked relation. At the lower end of the hopper a slide member 82 is mounted to move transversely of the two packaging paths, being actuated by a lever 83 pivotally connected to the slide and having a fixed pivot point 8d. The slide member 82 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 85, each of which is slightly larger than the outline of a wafer and the thickness of the slide member is slightly less than the thickness of the wafers. Beneath the slide member are a pair of outwardly inclined chutes 85 which lead to the apex of the receiving channels S of the web. In the full line position of the slide member one of the apertures 85 is aligned with the stack of wafers so that a wafer is disposed within the aperture and supported by a bottom portion 8l of the hopper. When the slide member is moved by the lever B3 from its full line position to its dash and dot outline, the aperture which contains a wafer is moved to the right when viewing Fig. l1 and is deposited down the chute 85 and onto the formed web. At the same time the other of the apertures 85 in the slide member 82 is aligned with the stack of wafers and a wafer is positioned therein. Subsequent return movement of the supply member and lever to the left, when viewing Fig. ll, will cause the slide member to deposit the wafer in the left hand receiving channel. After deposit of an individual portion of ice cream from the forming aperture d additional wafers may be superposed to provide the composite articles, which may then be enclosed, as described, to provide completed packages.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modiiied form of depositing mechanism which is mounted above the shaped web of enwrapments as was described in.

connection with the depositing mechanism shown in Fig. 5. In this form of the invention, objects are fed and deposited in a direction extending transversely of the longitudinal receiving channels 9. This is considered especially desirable for assembling and packaging items such as multilayer confections and the like. A supply conduit Sil leads from a suitable source of the commodity to be packaged and the flow may be alternately directed by an oscillating valve 9! to one or the other of a pair of forming apertures or nozzles S2, which are downwardly and outwardly directed toward the receivingchannels of the web of enwrapments.

The oscillation of the valve 9| alternately opens the passage through the valve to permit substantially continuous flow of the plastic material, so that the masses may be deposited into one or the other of the packaging paths. Preferably the web of enwrapments is intermittently advanced and the deposition can be caused to occur during the hesitation or dwell of the web. To facilitate the deposition a pair of blades 93, which are similar to the blades 5A in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, may be mounted adjacent and in the plane of the end faces of the nozzles. These blades may be driven in timed relation with each other by a mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 6. As indicated in Fig. 12, the web of enwrapments may be shaped to provide portions of the web, indicated by the numeral 9d, for wiping engagement with the blade and such portions 94 may be slightly bowed so as to resiliently urge them into wiping contact with the blades. This form of the invention is considered beneficial for many plastic commodities. Where it is desirable to shear or wipe the plastic material at the time of deposit, an excellent wiping action can be obtained without providing the edge slits 23 on the web as shown in Fig. 2 for the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 6.

An extremely satisfactory way of forming packages in accordance with the present invention is to utilize a web of packaging material with two sequences of enwrapment sections defined thereon and arranged in staggered relation with the midpoints of enwrapments of one sequence opposite to the end portions of adjacent enwrapments of the other sequences as shown in Fig. 2. The web is then advanced adjacent the receiving station with an intermittent motion, each forward motion of the web being for a distance equal to one half a Wrapper length. At each pause or dwell of the web, an object may be deposited alternately in the appropriate one of the two packaging paths. When the objects being packaged comprise masses of plastic material, this arrangement facilitates the packaging operation since the plastic may be continuously flowed from a common source of supply and individual masses removed from the ilow, accurately measured, and cleanly deposited. After deposition, the two sequences will contain the objects to be packaged in staggered relation (see Fig. 2 of my previously identiiied copending application Serial No. 120,942).

Until the web is severed into individual .sequences of enwrapments, it may be fed by a common mechanism and provides higher capacity of completed packages without a corresponding increase in the amount of apparatus. Further, the web, as described is Wider and the supply rolls therefor may be of greater diameter and permit acerbes@ modity arid'thus-.bemorecostly 4than merely. the

expense offshutting dowrr tha-fabricating. appa.- ratus.

The presentinvention-providesamethodof;;and apparatusslfor producinganincreased nnmbeieof packaged. -obj-ects- 4in astatedfy time. andzzthus; reducestheunit cost of .each1pa`ckage, withoutxunduly'increasing the .amountlof: apparatus required. Theiresulting packageswill' allbe.uniform and attractive in appearance. Each object may be accurately locatedwithirespect'toits Wrapper and with'afespect to the printed-:matter on theY wrappela.

It will be appreciated that in the drawings, proportions have been exaggerated in some instances to provide a greater understanding of the invention.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention is for the purpose of explanation and illustration, and numerous variations and modifications other than those which have been described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The method of packaging which comprises feeding enwrapments in a plurality of paths simultaneously continuously feeding material to be wrapped and extruding the same alternatively through a plurality of apertures, separately forming a plurality of series of objects to be wrapped from the extruded material, alternately depositing the objects of the said series so formed upon the enwrapments in said paths, and forming individual packages enclosing each of said objects.

2. The method of packaging which comprises feeding enwrapments in a plurality of paths, simultaneously continuously feeding a single flow of material to be wrapped, directing the material successively into a plurality of paths and separately forming a plurality of series of objects to be wrapped in such paths, alternately depositing the objects of the said series so formed in spaced relation upon the enwrapments in said paths, and forming individual packages enclosing each of said objects.

3. The method of packaging which comprises feeding a plurality of spaced sequences of enwrapments in given spaced paths, simultaneously continuously feeding a single flow of material to be wrapped, directing the material successively into a plurality of paths coextensive with the spaced paths of enwrapments and forming objects to be wrapped in said paths, depositing the objects so formed in spaced relation upon the sequence of enwrapments, and forming individual `packages enclosing each of said objects.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the enwrapments of thespaced sequences are in staggered relation and wherein the formed objects are deposited alternatively in the respective sequences.

5. The method of packaging which comprises feeding enwrapments in a plurality of paths, forming said enwrapments into the form of channels each channel having a bottom edge, simultaneously continuously feeding material to be wrapped, separately forming a plurality of series of objects to be wrapped from the continuously fed material each of said objects having a bottom edge alternately depositing the objects of the said series solfnrmedruporrthenwrapments with-thebottom edge nf. eachy object conformingtothefbottom-:edge: of .afchannelj and. forming individual packagesA enclosing eachrofsaid objects.

6. j The. method ofi; packagu'ngf;which.` comprises feeding as'plurality mf/sequences of venwrapments inf..a:.plurality1 of respectiverpaths; simultaneously continuously feeding: material.: to rbexzwrapped,

forming.:theamaterialfinto objects? to` be'packaged,

alternately depositing :s'aidyobjects .onto the plurality'of sequences: of4 enwrapments and: forming individualrpackages :enclosing each z of said: ob,-v jects.

'7 .'a Therrrrethod off claim nwhereirr .the feeding 0f the enwrapments includes the step of formingpuazfpair of `spaced parallel longitudinally. kextendingchannelsiin' the `said respective paths and the Afeeding .thereof .-is. ac'complishedfby advancing` the.l same fora' distance: equal; tozhalfzan .enwrapmentlengthfollowedbjaa pausebetween each advancing-manningzandwvlrerein;the; objectstare alternately deposited inzthe'ichannels during.z.the successive pauses.

8. Apparatus for forming packages comprising means for feeding enwrapments in a plurality of paths, means for continuously feeding material to be wrapped, means to form a plurality of series of individual objects to be wrapped from the continuously fed material and for depositing said objects alternately upon the enwrapments in said paths, and means to apply the enwrapments about the objects to form individual packages enclosing the objects.

9. Apparatus for forming packages comprising means for feeding a plurality of spaced sequences of enwrapments in given spaced paths, means for simultaneously continuously feeding a single flow of material to be wrapped, means for directing the material successively into a plurality of paths coeXte-nsive with the spaced paths of enwrapments, means for forming objects to be wrapped from the material in the last named paths, means for depositing the objects so formed in spaced relation upon the sequence of enwrapments, and means forming individual packages enclosing each of the objects.

10. Apparatus for forming packages comprising means for feeding a plurality of spaced sequences of enwrapments in staggered relation in given spaced paths, means for simultaneously continuously feeding a single flow of material to be wrapped, means for directing the material successively into a plurality of paths coextensive with the spaced paths of enwrapments, means for forming objects to be wrapped from the material in the last named paths, means for depositing the objects so formed alternately and in spaced relation upon the sequence of enwrapments, and means forming individual packages enclosing each of the objects.

11. Apparatus for forming packages comprising means for feeding enwrapments in a plurality of paths, means to form the enwrapments into the form of spaced apart channels having a bottom edge, means for simultaneously continuously feeding material to be wrapped, means to form from the material a plurality of objects in spaced relation with bottom edges, means to deposit the objects so formed alternately upon the enwrapments with the bottom edge of each object conforming to the bottom edge of the channels, and means forming individual packages enclosing each of the objects.

12. Apparatus for forming packages comprising means for feeding a plurality of sequences of enwrapments in step-by-step fashion in a plurality of respective paths, means for simultaneously continuously feeding material to be Wrapped, means for forming the material into a plurality of paths of objects to be Wrapped, means for alternately depositing said objects onto the two sequences of enwrapments during the respective intervals of pause in the step-bystep motion, and means forming individual packages enclosing each of said objects.

13. Apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein means is provided to engage the material of the enwrapments intermediate the sides thereof to move the enwrapments through the aforesaid paths.

14. Apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of movable supports are provided with supporting surfaces corresponding to the shape of the channels formed in the enwrapments to support the objects deposited therein, and means to advance the supports in synchronism with the motion of the enwrapments.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Hicks May 26, 1891 Salsberg Dec. 6, 1938 Gregory et a1 J an. 30, 1940 Gage Dec. 1, 1942 Walter Mar. 7, 1944 Keller Aug. 29, 1944 Rebechini Sept. 11, 1945 Salsberg June l5, 1948 Campbell Feb. 22, 1949 Salisberg Feb. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Brita-in Oct. 1, 1937 

